In this photo from Oct. 4, 2003, an artificial rose blows in the wind in a crack in the split-rail fence where Matthew Shepard was tied, beaten and left to die in October 1998. The fence has since been torn down. <!–IPTC: LARAMIE, WYO. – October 4, 2003 – An artificial rose poked into a crack in the rail ranch fence near Laramie, WY where Matthew Shepard was tied, beaten and left to die stands quietly Saturday, 10/4/03. There is no evidence of the crime in the area, only footprints in the sand, the rose and a few disintegrating bouquets on the ground. (Jerry Cleveland / The Denver Post)–>

A decade ago, in October of 1998 in Laramie, Wyo., a bicyclist came across a horrific site. He happened across a young man, beaten and bloodied, who had been tied to a split-rail fence for more than 18 hours. The 21-year-old, who had been left to die, was Matthew Shepard.

The world watched, praying for Matthew to pull through. Unfortunately, six days later, with his family at his side, Matthew died.

I know what a horrific site like that looks like. In July, I went to visit my younger sister Angie, 18. When I entered her apartment in Greeley, she was in the middle of the floor, beaten and bloodied. She was already dead. She never had a chance.

It’s 100 miles from Laramie to Greeley, but it’s like we’ve been standing still. It’s been 10 years from Matthew to Angie, but it’s like we haven’t moved forward.

Angie was a vibrant and active young woman. She loved her family and friends, and was adored by her nieces and nephews. By all accounts, Matthew was a great student cherished by his family and everyone who knew him.

Yet my sister and Matthew were both torn down in their prime. At the threshold of their lives, they were brutally torn down and denied the opportunity to achieve their hopes and dreams.

Unfortunately, this is reality for too many gay and transgender youth like Matthew and Angie. My sister came to us as a family, when she was 15, to let us know she was a transgender person. I admired her for the bravery and courage it took to share, but it wasn’t a surprise — I always really knew she was my little sister, and I loved her every bit for it.

Angie was beautiful. Angie was funny. Angie was energetic. She was loving, kind, happy and so full of life. That scared her murderer. “How could a young transgender woman, be so confident and secure with herself?” he must have wondered.

But that confidence, confidence that all young people who come out as gay or transgender, scares some people. This fear has built into hatred way too often. It built into hatred in the hearts of the two men who murdered Matthew, and that same hatred consumes the man who savagely murdered my little sister in her apartment in July.

This type of fear and hatred is inexplicable. It’s got to stop.

Angie was a transgender Colorado girl. But more than that, she was our sister, daughter, aunt and friend. Her murderer failed to see her as human, as a member of our family and our community.

As Coloradans, we should resolve to stop this vicious cycle. We’re 10 years and 100 miles removed from Matthew’s murder. Let’s resolve, together, to stop standing still. Let’s demand an end to bias-motivated crimes. Let’s value every member of our community, and stand up against bigotry. Let’s support leaders who stand with Matthew and Angie and will see the Matthew Shepard Act passed in Congress. Let’s make sure Colorado becomes a safe place for young gay and transgender people.

It is my prayer that when we are remembering the lives of Angie and Matt in another 10 years, there are no more families like ours to add to the list. It’s time to end violence against gay and transgender kids.